Tan Dun (1996)

The City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize

Selected by Toru Takemitsu, Fourth Prize Laureate

Before his death, Dr. Takemitsu was made aware of his having been named the fourth laureate of the Glenn Gould Prize. At that time he personally selected Tan Dun, the dynamic, young Chinese composer/performer/conductor, to be the winner of The City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize.

At the Prize ceremony this honour was presented to Tan Dun by Her Worship, Mayor Barbara Hall, of the City of Toronto. "It is such a great honour to have been chosen by Toru Takemitsu to receive The City of Toronto Glenn Gould Protégé Prize. Both of these men - two of the greatest musicians of the 20th century - had a legendary ability to communicate the voices of heaven, earth and humanity. This honour is a big encouragement for me to continue discovering the depths of music, to continue building the spiritual road between East and West."